(CNMI Homeland Security and Emergency Management) — Based on information received from the National Weather Service in Tiyan, Guam and compiled at the CNMI Emergency Operations Center-State Warning Point, Tropical Depression Krosa was west of Saipan and moving north.
A tropical storm watch remains in effect for Rota, Tinian, and Saipan and coastal waters, as well as for Agrihan, Pagan and Alamagan. A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions, including winds of 39 mph or more, are possible.
Tropical storm conditions are possible Friday for Rota, Tinian and Saipan, depending on how quickly Krosa intensifies.
As of 7 p.m. Thursday, Krosa was about 145 miles west-northwest of Tinian; about 150 miles northwest of Rota; about 150 miles west of Saipan; about 235 miles southwest of Pagan; and about 265 miles south-southwest of Agrihan.
The center of Krosa was located near latitude 15.5 degrees north and longitude 143.5 degrees east. Krosa was moving north at 15 mph.
It is expected to maintain this general course with a decrease in forward speed through Friday, with a slight turn to the north-northeast by Saturday. This track keeps the center of Krosa to the west of the far Northern Islands.
Maximum sustained winds remain at 35 mph. Krosa is forecast to intensify through Friday possibly becoming a tropical storm to the west of Anatahan.
Because of the anticipated threat of Tropical Depression Krosa, Gov. David M. Apatang issued the following conditions as of 8 p.m., Thursday:
Tropical Storm Condition III for Saipan, Tinian, Rota, Alamagan, Pagan and Agrihan.
A watch is typically associated with a 48-hour timeframe for possible onset of damaging tropical storm force winds. But in this scenario, those winds are possible within 24 hours, which would correspond to a warning. However, those winds are currently a possibility, and not an expectation.
The CNMI Emergency Operations Center State Warning Point will be monitoring the movement of Tropical Depression Krosa and will be issuing out bulletins as they become available.
Keep a close watch on updates to weather forecasts and stay informed on the latest statements and advisories which will be available through local media sources and NOAA weather radio broadcast via phone at 211, or call CNMI EOC State Warning Point at (670) 237-8000 or (670) 664-8000. Those in the Northern Islands can contact CNMI EOC State Warning Point at high frequency single side band radio on frequency 5.205.0.
